SP767

Guys and Gals,

This is my first 30 day report on my 2004 RX8 ownership experience.

Overall, I am very pleased with my car. I bought the car second hand from a Mazda dealer with 2,800 miles on the odometer. It is a July of 2003 build date.

I have bought and sold many, many cars in my lifetime…too many actually.

Let me start with the bad. I have posted on this forum about my gas mileage problems in my first 1,000 miles of driving. I was getting about 10mpg in the city and 14 on the highway. I changed fuel from 93 octane to 89 octane at the same time that I got the M flash from my dealer. I don’t know if it was the fuel change or the M flash, but my mileage jumped in that first week with the M and the fuel change to 14-16 city and 21 highway and has stayed there for two weeks. While this fuel mileage is nothing to brag about, it is at least up from what I started with. I can tolerate it, given the whole picture of this car’s abilities.

I have had no other mechanical problems with the car so far. The only thing that I want to change is the brake rotors. My rear rotors and the fronts to some extent, are terribly corroded. Mazda really went on the cheap with these rotors.

I don’t like the quirky sound of the rotory at idle. But I absolutely love it once you are off idle. It is the smoothest engine that I have ever heard once you are off idle. For a basis of comparison, it is smoother than a BMW inline six all the way to the redline.

This fuel mileage issue really had me down in the first week of ownership. Amazingly though, as I began to relax about this problem, I let go and began to understand how great this car is. I have never owned a car that I liked better every time I drive it. I am used to finding things that I don’t like and getting tired and or bored with a car. Not this car.

What is so exciting to me though, is that dynamically, very, very few cars can match what the RX8 is capable of. If you understand this point, it is amusing to see the posts of those that knock the RX for attributes unrelated to what this car was designed to do. People knock the low torque, the cramped interior, etc… and granted, there are definitely some compromises. But life is about compromise!!

The RX8 is a sports car. The most important attribute of sports car, is that it is fun. The RX8 delivers fun at the highest level! If you are searching only for power, this car will disappoint you. But if you want a car that has a sum that is better than its parts. If you want a car that handles well, brakes well, sounds great, has a fantastic gear box, and clutch, and that really “feels right”, then this car will really impress you.

I am a driver that loves to be involved in the drive. You can really feel the advantage of a light weight car with the RX. It is so agile and so balanced, you feel very connected to the car. It makes all the right moves. The car never puts a foot wrong.

Two more things; if you are thinking about buying this car, and you are on the fence, it can’t disappoint you unless you are looking for sedan type roominess, you have to have torque to be happy, or mileage is very important to you. Other than those issues, you can’t possibly regret your purchase.

I am very proud to be a part of this forum. First, I have had some great help and input from many of you here with my mileage issues. And secondly, it is really cool to connect with you guys that understand this car the way that I now do. If you love this car, then you are a drivers driver. You love to drive. Hoo-Rah!

Steve

Blue_Chameleon

Yeah, the mileage thing does stink. But then again, it's a sports car and I don't know of a sports car that actually "SAVES" gas. When I had my '95 Camaro Z28, it got better gas mileage than my RX8...but the handling on the RX8 is so much better. It's definitely a good well-rounded sports car. So I can't complain much.

michael d

Here is my .02 worth, this is the best car I have ever owned, I have had over 50 cars, next to my RX8 in my garage is a Factory Five Cobra, my last car was a G35 coupe, before that a 325, z28, must gt, 911 , RX8 is great!!!!!!!!!

SP767

Man Michael,

You are as crazy as I am!! I have had about 50 cars also. My favorite was my 2002 540 6spd that I picked up in Munich on the euro delivery plan through BMW.

This car is more fun, the 540 was almost as fun, but more comfortable, obviously. It would be cool to have one of each. However, I am very distressed with what BMW has done to their designs and how they have overcomplicated their cars.

What was your last car before the RX? The G35?

Steve